Take Your Dog To Work Day

[Loving my Oldies]

Dogs at work can work, but before you go to the powers that be make sure you have thought out all possibilities and have contingenies for everything. The things I would be wanting to present would be:

-how dogs will be contained/restrained

-how noise will be dealt with

-how disagreements between dogs will be dealt with

-how space will be allocated so that dogs have enough space without interfering with other dogs

-how cleaning/smell will be dealt with

-how supervision of dogs will be maintained (we have a policy that dogs must be supervised 100% of the time, so if you have to go to the toilet you must have someone who can supervise your dog during that time - this is just to prevent problems)

-how will interactions with other people be dealt with

-how will space be managed around people who do not want dogs near them

-will the be no go zones for dogs (eg eating areas, around phone rooms, etc)

-managing entering and exiting the building so no confrontations occur

-managing people who have no idea how to behave around dogs, what instructions will be given

-managing the handing out of treats (I often find everyone wants to give the dogs a treat!! Which can equal fat stinky dogs!!)

-toileting areas and cleaning up mess

-will there be a limit on the number of dogs that can attend

-how will the temperament of the dogs be known before they attend (it's nice to think that people can be objective about this but some people don't really know and don't know that their dog will/won't be suitable in the workplace)

-health statuses of animals (vacc's, etc up to date)

-what if an emergency vet visit is required for whatever reason

A lot of dogs find it really exciting to go to work, and can be a bit on the hyper side when they get there so that is something also that needs to be considered.

I really do think dogs in the workplace can be ok but it just needs a lot more planning than people sometimes think. Maybe some possible ways around some of this might be trying to organise a week of days where you can limit the number attending each day but everyone who wants a go can have one if their dog is suitable. Or maybe people could work half days in the office and half at home so the dogs aren't overwhelmed by a full day there.

But I do think if you go in with a well though out plan and have addressed every contingency you can think of then your chances will be hugely increased as compared tojust going in and saying it would be a nice idea! I hope your chat goes well, I'd be interested to ehar how you go!! good luck!!

This is a good list of issues to be considered - most of them pretty easily dealt with. When I worked I would regularly take my dogs into the office if I worked on a weekend - but that is a different scenario as no one else around.

However, on the odd occasion when dogs had to have medications or eye drops every hour or so, I would take my dogs in and take a barricade with me so they were barricaded into my work area. They spent most of the time under my desk as that do at home, either under the desk or at least scattered around the study on their mats.

If I need something done and I have a professional in to do and am told "well there is a problem", my response always is, "You are the expert, I don't want to be just told there is a problem, I want to hear how you intend to solve it."

[Leah82]

Dogs at work can work, but before you go to the powers that be make sure you have thought out all possibilities and have contingenies for everything. The things I would be wanting to present would be:

-how dogs will be contained/restrained

-how noise will be dealt with

-how disagreements between dogs will be dealt with

-how space will be allocated so that dogs have enough space without interfering with other dogs

-how cleaning/smell will be dealt with

-how supervision of dogs will be maintained (we have a policy that dogs must be supervised 100% of the time, so if you have to go to the toilet you must have someone who can supervise your dog during that time - this is just to prevent problems)

-how will interactions with other people be dealt with

-how will space be managed around people who do not want dogs near them

-will the be no go zones for dogs (eg eating areas, around phone rooms, etc)

-managing entering and exiting the building so no confrontations occur

-managing people who have no idea how to behave around dogs, what instructions will be given

-managing the handing out of treats (I often find everyone wants to give the dogs a treat!! Which can equal fat stinky dogs!!)

-toileting areas and cleaning up mess

-will there be a limit on the number of dogs that can attend

-how will the temperament of the dogs be known before they attend (it's nice to think that people can be objective about this but some people don't really know and don't know that their dog will/won't be suitable in the workplace)

-health statuses of animals (vacc's, etc up to date)

-what if an emergency vet visit is required for whatever reason

Thanks Emma, that's a really good list. Some I've thought of so far like where to keep the dogs, we all have fairly decent sized cubicles and there's plenty of room for them to be tethered under their owners desk with their bed. And for an outer suburb office of about 50 people I'd say we would have a max of about 5 - 6 dogs and we're lucky we have a nice park area outside for toilet time. I didn't think about off limit areas though, at first guess I would say the kitchen and lunch room would be it.

[mita]

Some dogs go to work every day. One of the Sydney rescuers placed a lovely tibbie boy with a couple who own their own business. She told me how the tibbie goes to work with them every day. His special job is reception... where clients, callers & delivery people enjoy talking to him. The presence of dogs can bring something special into the workplace. So good to see this thread.

There's a funny set of pics on the TYDTWD Facebook page.

What the boss is afraid it is.

What you hope it is.

What it really is.

What it means for an adoptable dog (they encourage rescuers to bring their foster dogs.

Edited June 3, 2013 by mita

[Dame Aussie]

I think it's a great idea. Sure there are lots of particulars to iron out, but why not give it a go? It is only one day after all. Good luck with it, and welcome :)

Edited June 3, 2013 by Aussie3

[Steph M]

Ugh what a shocking welcome! Hi Leah!

Personally I think it's a great idea, if you can overcome the hurdles and everyone does their bit I can't see why it wouldn't be lovely.

I'd be on board. We're in a pretty small work place and only a handful of us have dogs, similar to yours. I think it would be lovely to meet other people's dogs, probably pretty good team building and can't hurt to chat to the people you work with about a common interest.

[gsdog2]

Some dogs go to work every day. One of the Sydney rescuers placed a lovely tibbie boy with a couple who own their own business. She told me how the tibbie goes to work with them every day. His special job is reception... where clients, callers & delivery people enjoy talking to him. The presence of dogs can bring something special into the workplace. So good to see this thread.

This is very similar to our story - we've had our own business for the past 24 years and for the last 20 years we've always had a dog at work. They're at work from 8 weeks of age and get to know our staff, customers, delivery drivers and sales reps. It has a positive effect on everyone - great socialising for our dog and customers etc find there are some very sweet-natured German Shepherds around.

For me, I find having a dog asleep beside me very calming - not sure I would still be in the same business without my dog coming to work with me every day :)

[tdierikx]

I'd love to be able to take one of my dogs to work - even just for a day... but we have a couple of people in the office who have a deathly fear of dogs, so I think it would be a no-go... *sigh*

Zeddy would be perfect for work though - she just lies around like an ornament all the time anyways...

T.

[PuddleDuck]

We used to bring our dogs in to our old office, I'd say the most at any time would be 10? Big mix, labs, Japanese spitz, weim, rottie, and whoever else tagged along. We had 2 designated 'dog days' a week but a few of us just brought them whenever.

The difference there was that we were a dog related and passionate company and as people joined the company they were told that is what we did and if they weren't happy with it then it might not be suitable for them. So everyone was a dog lover. I personally had one dog poo under the boardroom table we were sitting at for my first interview, everyone laughed and I knew that anywhere that loved dogs that much, I would be very happy

All dogs were on leads but after a while we knew who we could trust off lead. My Doof was a free ranger and greeted everyone with a tennis ball. He visited everyone throughout the day or they'd come see him. We had a dog with separation anxiety who barked and as it turns out 20 people can scream 'shut up kxxxx' in unison with no planning :laugh: you'd always have to check for dogs doing zoomies before stepping into the hall with a cuppa. Everyone had to walk and toilet their own dogs and clean up accidents. Febreeze is your friend there.

Unfortunately when we moved to head office we couldn't take the dogs, because there was an already established group of employees and for various reasons (cultural, religion or just didn't like dogs) it wasn't fair to force our dog in the office rules on the greater majority so we switched to picnic days where everyone brought dogs.

[mita]

we've had our own business for the past 24 years and for the last 20 years we've always had a dog at work. They're at work from 8 weeks of age and get to know our staff, customers, delivery drivers and sales reps. It has a positive effect on everyone - great socialising for our dog and customers etc find there are some very sweet-natured German Shepherds around.

For me, I find having a dog asleep beside me very calming -

Funny you should say that about the positive effect of dogs. When they did research on the pet therapy dogs in hospitals, there was an unexpected finding that they had a positive influence on the staff.

Same about puppies being raised for service work by prisoners.... there was not only positive effects on the prisoners involved, but also on the staff.

[PuddleDuck]

we've had our own business for the past 24 years and for the last 20 years we've always had a dog at work. They're at work from 8 weeks of age and get to know our staff, customers, delivery drivers and sales reps. It has a positive effect on everyone - great socialising for our dog and customers etc find there are some very sweet-natured German Shepherds around.

For me, I find having a dog asleep beside me very calming -

Funny you should say that about the positive effect of dogs. When they did research on the pet therapy dogs in hospitals, there was an unexpected finding that they had a positive influence on the staff.

Same about puppies being raised for service work by prisoners.... there was not only positive effects on the prisoners involved, but also on the staff.

I found if anyone who was dogless was having a bad day, they'd come and ask to take doof for a walk and overall it was the happiest workplace I've ever been a part of :)

[mita]

I found if anyone who was dogless was having a bad day, they'd come and ask to take doof for a walk and overall it was the happiest workplace I've ever been a part of :)

So sweet! And I'd believe that.

[Bundyburger]

:laugh: We call Dory the 'doorbell'. Sometimes we have people come to the back door when we are busy up the front. We often don't hear them knock...not a problem when Dory is 'on duty'. Everyone misses her if I haven't bought her in. And it is amazing how much we have come to rely on her warning us when someone is at the door.

You work in a vet clinic though don't you? So that's a bit different. I know our building management would never let dogs in. I asked when my Viz was little and got a resounding no.

[Little Gifts]

I worked for the state government and we had a purpose built building that we worked from. There was nothing formal about it but several of us took our dogs into work from time to time (working on weekends or when big storms were due and we had scaredy cats). Another person cared for wildlife and often had animals/birds with her for monitoring and feeding during her long work day. A friend of mine currently works in advertising and takes her dogs to work regularly.

I really think it depends on your boss, other staff and workplace culture because it was also extremely common to have staff's babies and children at work too (as well as the dogs!).

My funniest incident was having my old pied sbt boy with me one day. He wasn't well and I only came into work to speak at the monthly managers meeting. He was asleep on his bed under my desk with his leash looped around my chair. My co-worker was in our pod and was to keep an eye on him while I did my spiel. She ended up on a phone call after I went in to do my bit. All of a sudden I was following people's eyes watching the bottom of the glass meeting room wall as they saw a dog strolling up the hallway pulling a chair behind it!

[mita]

LG, :)

[Dory the Doted One]

:laugh: We call Dory the 'doorbell'. Sometimes we have people come to the back door when we are busy up the front. We often don't hear them knock...not a problem when Dory is 'on duty'. Everyone misses her if I haven't bought her in. And it is amazing how much we have come to rely on her warning us when someone is at the door.

You work in a vet clinic though don't you? So that's a bit different. I know our building management would never let dogs in. I asked when my Viz was little and got a resounding no.

Most clinics I've worked for have had a no pet policy. This is the first one I've come across that have been okay with it.

I feel very privileged to be able to bring Dory to work with me, it's one that could be rescinded very easily. And there is a limit.

[RiverStar-Aura]

I've always wanted to take my dogs to work but Zeus would be horrible on the registers and Kirah isn't good with money! :D

[gsdog2]

we've had our own business for the past 24 years and for the last 20 years we've always had a dog at work. They're at work from 8 weeks of age and get to know our staff, customers, delivery drivers and sales reps. It has a positive effect on everyone - great socialising for our dog and customers etc find there are some very sweet-natured German Shepherds around.

For me, I find having a dog asleep beside me very calming -

Funny you should say that about the positive effect of dogs. When they did research on the pet therapy dogs in hospitals, there was an unexpected finding that they had a positive influence on the staff.

Same about puppies being raised for service work by prisoners.... there was not only positive effects on the prisoners involved, but also on the staff.

I have an issue with high blood pressure and I'm sure having Indi sleeping calmly beside me helps keep it under control and stable - especially when we have a 'difficult' customer :)

[ari.g]

Didn't someone on here once have to pick up/drop something at work after hours and they worked in a big building in Sydney? They had a doberman or something and they snuck in on the weekend, and had to go in the lift. Anyway, the dog stole a toy/something from someone's desk and they posted a thread on how to figure out who's it was to give it back? Was a funny thread :laugh:

[Tuxie]

All of a sudden I was following people's eyes watching the bottom of the glass meeting room wall as they saw a dog strolling up the hallway pulling a chair behind it!

That's hilarious!

[Loving my Oldies]

I've always wanted to take my dogs to work but Zeus would be horrible on the registers and Kirah isn't good with money! :D

Hmm, my understanding is that it is up to the owners to train their dogs - you really can't blame the dogs if you don't teach them.

:) :) :)